Entry adapter that blocks different frequency bands and preserves downstream signal strength

• US 10,154,303 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2018
• Issued: 12/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PPC Broadband Incorporated (Belden Inc.)
• Original Assignee: PPC Broadband Incorporated (Belden Inc.)
• Inventors: Wells, Chad T., Egan, Jr., John M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dubasky, Gigi L
• Application Number:
  US15/880,166
• Publication Number:
  US 20180152753A1
• Time in Patent Office: 320 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2801 Broadband local area networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6118 involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6168 involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/63 Control signaling related to video distribution between client, server and network components; Network processes for video distribution between server and clients or between remote clients, e.g. transmitting basic layer and enhancement layers over different transmission paths, setting up a peer-to-peer communication via Internet between remote STB's; Communication protocols; Addressing real-time session protocols H04L65/1101; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/104 Switchers or splitters

Abstract

An entry adapter configured to allow downstream and upstream external signals to be received by the entry adapter, allow the downstream and upstream external signals to be conducted to a server interface of an internal client-server network, allow client signals to be conducted to a client interface of the internal client-server network, and including a frequency band blocking device configured to allow low frequency band signals to be conducted to the server interface, preserve downstream signal strength to the server interface, allow high frequency band signals to be conducted to the client interface, and block the high frequency band signals from being conducted to the external network.

Claims

1. A cable television (CATV) entry adapter for conducting downstream and upstream CATV signals between a CATV network and at least one subscriber device at a subscriber premises and for conducting in-home network signals between multiple subscriber devices at the subscriber premises connected in an in-home network, without diminishing downstream CATV signal strength to an extent that such downstream CATV signals disrupt CATV signal communications with a server network interface, the CATV signals occupying a CATV frequency band that is different from an in-home network frequency band occupied by the in-home network signals, the CATV entry adapter comprising:

a CATV entry port configured to communicate with a CATV network;

a plurality of network ports each configured to communicate with one of a plurality of subscriber devices;

a signal splitter having an input terminal and at least two output terminals, wherein each of the at least two output terminals is configured to communicate with one of the plurality of network ports;

a downstream and upstream CATV communication and in-home network frequency band blocking device configured to allow downstream and upstream CATV signals to be communicated to the plurality of network ports and block in-home network signals from being communicated to the CATV network;

wherein the downstream and upstream CATV communication and in-home network frequency band blocking device is connected between the CATV entry port and the input terminal of the signal splitter;

wherein the downstream and upstream CATV communication and in-home network frequency band blocking device includes a low pass terminal that is configured to communicate with the CATV entry port, a high pass terminal that is configured to communicate with the signal splitter, and a common terminal that is configured to communicate with at least one of the plurality of network ports;

wherein the plurality of network ports comprises a primary port configured to communicate with a server network interface and a secondary port configured to communicate with a client network interface;

wherein the downstream and upstream CATV communication and in-home network frequency band blocking device is configured to allow both upstream and downstream CATV signals to communicate with the primary port;

wherein the downstream and upstream CATV communication and in-home network frequency band blocking device is configured to conduct only the downstream and upstream CATV signals between the CATV entry port and the primary port;

wherein the downstream and upstream CATV communication and in-home network frequency band blocking device is configured to allow the upstream and downstream CATV signals to be conducted through the low pass terminal, instead of allowing downstream CATV signals to be conducted to the client network interface, and instead of allowing upstream CATV signals to be conducted from the client network interface through the secondary port and to the CATV entry port;

wherein the downstream and upstream CATV communication and in-home network frequency band blocking device is configured to allow the downstream CATV signals to reach the server network interface without diminishing a signal strength of the downstream CATV signals between the CATV entry port and the primary port to an extent that such downstream CATV signals disrupt CATV signal communications with the server network interface;

wherein the downstream and upstream CATV signals are not amplified between the CATV entry port and the server interface;

wherein the downstream and upstream CATV communication and in-home network frequency band blocking device is configured to allow the downstream CATV signals to be conducted between the entry port and the primary port without being split more than once such that the signal strength of the downstream CATV signals is reduced by at most half between the entry port and the primary port;

wherein the downstream and upstream CATV communication and in-home network frequency band blocking device is configured to allow the server network interface to deliver a network signal to the client network interface over the in-home network even when the in-home network signals are passed through the signal splitter;

wherein the secondary port comprises a plurality of secondary ports, and the signal splitter comprises a multiple-way splitter configured to communicate with the plurality of secondary ports;

wherein the downstream and upstream CATV communication and in-home network frequency band blocking device is configured to only communicate the in-home network signals in a predetermined high frequency band range through a high frequency band terminal; and

wherein the downstream and upstream CATV communication and in-home network frequency band blocking device is configured to only communicate the downstream and upstream CATV signals in a predetermined low frequency band range through a low frequency band terminal.

2. The CATV entry adapter of claim 1, wherein the server network interface is configured to convert multimedia content from the downstream CATV signals into network signals to the client network interface, the client network interface is configured to communicate information constituting the upstream CATV signals to the server network interface, and the server network interface is configured to convert the information constituting the upstream CATV signals communicated from the client network interface into converted upstream CATV signals and allow the converted upstream CATV signals to be communicated to the common terminal of the downstream and upstream CATV communication and in-home network frequency band blocking device.

3. The CATV entry adapter of claim 1, wherein the signal splitter and the downstream and upstream CATV communication and in-home network frequency band blocking device are passive electronic components.

4. The CATV entry adapter of claim 1, wherein power received by the entry adapter is received only through the downstream and upstream CATV signals or the in-home network signals.

5. The CATV entry adapter of claim 1, wherein the downstream and upstream CATV signals pass respectively from and to the CATV network through the downstream and upstream CATV communication and in-home network frequency band blocking device without substantial attenuation.

6. The CATV entry adapter of claim 1, wherein the downstream and upstream CATV communication and in-home network frequency band blocking device is configured to block the in-home network signals within an in-home network signal frequency band of 1125 megahertz to 1525 megahertz, and pass the downstream and upstream CATV signals within a CATV signal frequency band of 5-1002 megahertz.

7. The CATV entry adapter of claim 1, wherein the downstream and upstream CATV communication and in-home network frequency band blocking device comprises a diplexer configured to conduct the downstream and upstream CATV signals in a CATV signal frequency band between the common terminal and the low frequency band terminal, and block the in-home network signals in an in-home network signal frequency band from being conducted between the common terminal and the low frequency band terminal.

8. The CATV entry adapter of claim 1, wherein the CATV entry port is directly connected to the low pass terminal of the downstream and upstream CATV communication and in-home network frequency band blocking device without any intermediate components, the high pass terminal of the downstream and upstream CATV communication and in-home network frequency band blocking device is directly connected to the input terminal of the signal splitter without any intermediate components, and the common terminal of the downstream and upstream CATV communication and in-home network frequency band blocking device is directly connected to the primary port without any intermediate components.

9. The CATV entry adapter of claim 1, wherein the in-home network signals are in the predetermined high frequency band range, and not in the predetermined low frequency band range, and the downstream and upstream CATV signals are in the predetermined low frequency band range, and not in the predetermined high frequency band range.

10. The CATV entry adapter of claim 1, wherein the downstream and upstream CATV signals and the in-home network signals are both made available to the server and client network interfaces so that the subscriber devices are configured to interact with not only the downstream and upstream CATV signals, but also the in-home network signals, and the downstream and upstream CATV communication and in-home network frequency band blocking device is configured to separate high and low frequency bands of signals so as to prevent high frequency in-home network signals from reaching the CATV network.

11. The CATV entry adapter of claim 10, wherein the server network interface is configured to store the downstream CATV signals and supply the in-home network signals to the client network interface based on the stored downstream CATV signals.

12. The CATV entry adapter of claim 1, wherein the predetermined low frequency band range comprises a downstream frequency band range and an upstream frequency band range, wherein the downstream frequency band range comprises 54 MHz to 1002 MHz, wherein the upstream frequency band range comprises 5 MHz to 42 MHz, and the predetermined high frequency band range comprises an in-home frequency band range comprising 1125 MHz to at least 1525 MHz.

13. A cable television (CATV) entry adapter for allowing two-way, downstream and upstream CATV signals to be conducted between a CATV network and a client device, allowing client signals to be conducted in a client-server network, and preventing the client signals from being conducted to the CATV network, the CATV entry adapter comprising:

an entry port configured to communicate with a CATV network;

a primary port configured to communicate with a server interface in a client-server network;

a secondary port configured to communicate with a client interface in the client-server network;

a frequency band blocking device configured to block client signals from being conducted to the CATV network, while allowing two-way, downstream and upstream CATV signals to be communicated between the CATV network and a client device in the client-server network;

wherein the frequency band blocking device is configured to be connected between the entry port and a signal splitter;

wherein the frequency band blocking device includes a low pass terminal, a high pass terminal, and a common terminal;

wherein the low pass terminal is configured to communicate with the entry port, the high pass terminal is configured to communicate with the secondary port via the signal splitter, and the common terminal is configured to communicate with the primary port;

wherein the frequency band blocking device is configured to allow both upstream and downstream CATV signals to communicate with the primary port;

wherein the frequency band blocking device is configured to conduct only the downstream and upstream CATV signals between the entry port and the primary port, without diminishing a signal strength of the downstream CATV signals between the entry port and the primary port to an extent that such downstream CATV signals disrupt CATV signal communications with the primary port;

wherein the frequency band blocking device is configured to allow the upstream and downstream CATV signals to be conducted through the low pass terminal, instead of allowing the downstream CATV signals to be conducted to the client interface, and instead of allowing the upstream CATV signals to be conducted from the client interface;

wherein the frequency band blocking device is configured to only communicate the client signals in a predetermined high frequency band range through the high pass terminal; and

wherein the frequency band blocking device is configured to only communicate the downstream and upstream CATV signals in a predetermined low frequency band range through the low pass terminal.

14. The CATV entry adapter of claim 13, wherein the downstream and upstream CATV signals and the client signals are both made available to the server and client interfaces so that the client device is configured to interact with not only the downstream and upstream CATV signals, but also the client signals, and the frequency band blocking device is configured to separate high and low frequency bands of signals so as to block high frequency client signals from reaching the CATV network.

15. The CATV entry adapter of claim 13, wherein the frequency band blocking device is configured to allow the downstream CATV signals to be conducted between the entry port and the primary port without being split.

16. The CATV entry adapter of claim 13, wherein the frequency band blocking device is a passive electronic component, and wherein power received by the entry adapter is received only through the downstream and upstream CATV signals or the client signals.

17. The CATV entry adapter of claim 13, wherein the frequency band blocking device comprises a diplexer configured to conduct the downstream and upstream CATV signals between the common terminal and the low frequency band terminal, and block the client signals in a client-server network signal frequency band from being conducted between the common terminal and the low frequency band terminal.

18. The CATV entry adapter of claim 13, wherein the frequency band blocking device configured to attenuate the client signals, so as to block client signals from being conducted to the CATV network.

19. The CATV entry adapter of claim 13, wherein the frequency band blocking device is configured to weaken the client signals, so as to block the client signals from being conducted to the CATV network.

20. The CATV entry adapter of claim 13, wherein the frequency band blocking device is configured to filter the client signals based on a frequency thereof, so as to block the client signals from being conducted to the CATV network.

21. An entry adapter for allowing downstream and upstream external signals to be conducted between an external network and a server interface, allowing client signals to be conducted in an internal client-server network, and preventing the client signals from being conducted to the external network, the entry adapter comprising:

a first port configured to allow downstream and upstream external signals to be received by the entry adapter;

a second port configured to allow the downstream and upstream external signals to be conducted to the server interface of an internal client-server network;

a third port configured to allow the client signals to be conducted to a client interface of the internal client-server network;

a frequency band blocking device configured to allow only the upstream and downstream external signals to be conducted through the second port to the server interface without diminishing a signal strength of the downstream external network signals between the first port and the second port to an extent that such downstream external signals disrupt signal communications with the second port, allow only the client signals to be conducted through the third port to the client interface, and block the client signals from being conducted to the external network; and

wherein downstream and upstream external signals have a frequency that is from 5 megahertz to 1002 megahertz, and the client signals have a frequency that is from 1125 megahertz to at least 1525 megahertz.

22. The entry adapter of claim 21, wherein the frequency band blocking device includes a low pass terminal, a high pass terminal, and a common terminal, wherein the frequency band blocking device is configured to allow signals in a predetermined high frequency band to be conducted through the high pass band terminal, the frequency band blocking device is configured to allow signals in a predetermined low frequency band to be conducted through the low frequency pass terminal, wherein the client signals are in the high frequency band and not in the low frequency band, wherein the upstream and downstream external signals are in the low frequency band and not in the high frequency band, and wherein the frequency band blocking device is configured to allow the upstream and downstream external signals to be conducted through the low pass terminal, instead of allowing the downstream external signals to be conducted to the client interface, and instead of allowing the client to be conducted from the client interface.

23. The entry adapter of claim 22, wherein the frequency band blocking device is configured to block signals in the predetermined low frequency band from being conducted through the high pass terminal, and wherein the frequency band blocking device is configured to block signals in the predetermined high frequency band from being conducted through the low frequency pass terminal.

24. The entry adapter of claim 21, wherein the frequency band blocking device is configured to conduct the downstream and upstream external signals between the first port and the second port, without diminishing a signal strength of the downstream external signals between the first port and the second port by more than half so as to avoid disrupting signal communications with server interface, wherein the downstream external signals are not amplified between the first port and the second port, and wherein the frequency band blocking device is configured to block the downstream and upstream external signals from being conducted to the third port.

25. The entry adapter of claim 21, wherein the frequency band blocking device is configured to block the client signals by filtering the client signals to reduce a signal strength thereof.

26. The entry adapter of claim 21, wherein the frequency band blocking device is configured to block the upstream and downstream external network signals from being conducted to the third port.

27. The entry adapter of claim 26, wherein the frequency band blocking device is configured to attenuate the upstream and downstream external network signals, so as to block the upstream and downstream external network signals from being conducted to the third port.